Cupooftea@泪眼朦胧

Singapore

2008-11-08T21:38:00.001+08:00

This one tickles me too much. Hope it does the same for you! :D
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Interesting perspective on Tibet

2008-10-30T03:35:00.002+08:00

Tibet WAS,IS,and ALWAYS WILL BE a Part of China
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What happened to Chinese Animation???

2008-10-24T21:33:00.006+08:00

Brings back so much childhood memories. Simply love everything about it! Lighting, colors, movement, narration, sound effects... arrgghhh...

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I love Prague...

2008-09-30T00:03:00.004+08:00

Prague feels so tropical by the time I came back from Transylvania. If there is anything I am proud of, it would be that I managed not to fall sick even though my immune system was on the verge of falling apart.

This is my toughest trip I have made to date and looking back, I feel very lucky to have made many friends in prague to explore so many places together.

This summer has been indeed eventful and immensely rewarding.

Budapest
Oradea
Sighisoara
Brasov

On the note of accommodation, I have decided to move back to the dormitory. In short, I need something more predictable. So today, I went to pay my rent and check out the new arrangement of the new/returning residents and the new allocation of rooms. Thanks to the manager who heeded my request. I now have a bigger room with a Japanese room-mate and one storey above all the Ukraine girls! How exciting. Maybe I should go get myself a new pair of heels. (evil grin)
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The Weather is Turning Nasty

2008-09-15T23:42:00.003+08:00

I am back from Munich with Christian. Pix here
And I am back from the wedding at Cesky Raj. Pix here
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And Siblings :)

2008-09-04T01:17:00.001+08:00

And I spoke to my siblings today. All 3 of them! Today is a great day for me :D
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Old Friends :)

2008-09-04T00:00:00.005+08:00

Ah kiong and Ah mah was really making me laugh so hard until I start sniffing. My flat-mate was concerned of course. I feel like such a goon and I feel so good too. I never had such a hearty conversation/laugh in such a long time. Here is a snippet!

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新居﹣小綿羊田

2008-09-03T21:42:00.005+08:00

我又搬家了！從‘蘿卜街‘到‘小綿羊田‘。已其說是‘明智的還責‘，倒不如說是‘別無還責‘。真的不想再搬了！照片在此
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Endless Sashimi at THE LINE - Shangri-La

2008-09-03T17:35:00.004+08:00

CY say one! When I come back next year :D Check this out!
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AT LAST

2008-08-28T18:52:00.002+08:00

At last, we hear some men's perspective which may give us a glimpse of reality in the parenting attitudes of Singaporean parents.

"While a woman thinks an outdoor picnic with the family is a way to unwind, to a man, this is about spending time and a commitment to his family, and not really unwinding."

- I am very tickled. What makes him think that 'a woman consider an outdoor picnic with the family is a way to unwind'?

"Agree that Singapore men life is worst than previous generations. We earned more than our fathers yet we have to take care of the babies at home. We fetch babies to childcare, changed diapers, bath the babies and coax the babies to bed, lost our friends, no time to have fun, while the women care for babies on part-time basis.

My wife is totally excited at the government latest package and ask me about the next baby. I just pretend I did not hear the question. As PM Lee said about women, men going on strike too."

- This guy should marry his mother.
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Brain Rules

2008-08-28T00:08:00.003+08:00

I am impressed with this website Brain Rules. It's actually a book which I doubt I can get it here. But the online version is actually quite good enough to get an idea of what it is all about. It reinforces some 'old' ideas that we may already know but choose to forget. Most importantly, the information is enjoyable and well-pesented.

"The brain is an amazing thing. Most of us have no idea what’s really going on inside our heads. Yet brain scientists have uncovered details every business leader, parent, and teacher should know.

How do we learn? What exactly do sleep and stress do to our brains? Why is multi-tasking a myth? Why is it so easy to forget—and so important to repeat new knowledge?

Brain Rules is about what we know for sure, and what we might do about it."
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Myth of the Superwoman

2008-08-27T16:46:00.005+08:00

Inspired by Peng's entry on having babies, I feel compelled to pen some thoughts even though I am single with no babies.

A natural thing to do
I do not understand why do people still consider having babies a 'natural' thing to do when our compromising lifestyle is far from natural if not artificial. Well, unless one consider it as a form of 'national duty' as termed by Mr Brown. Check this hilarious podcast out!

Ethics
The baby incentives affair seems more like a dialogue between the state and the working women negotiating, bargaining, haggling over some cash and petty annual leave. Where are the voice of the men and fathers? Do they not have anything to say? And what about the women who gave up their career to stay home altogether with their children? (To me, they are the sanest at the moment.) It might be a virtuous intention to boost birth rates of the country but the state may really be sending out the wrong message by the way the policies are being implemented at the moment. It's not unlike banks extending credit limits for people who really cannot afford and end up with huge debts or even reducing themselves to bankruptcy. Some people just cannot see beyond today. And the state is not doing much to help them see any clearer...

Social aftermath
Babies (unfortunately) do grow up and become human beings who constitute the makeup of the society. The essence of the new generation is actually very visible to anyone who choose not to turn a blind eye. I see a lot of neglected kids in schools and polytechnics regardless of their social status. (In fact, the richer they are, the more warp. Think Paris Hilton...) Their lack of guidance and neglect (amassed way before they enrolled) manifest in the strangest kind of behavior that have never failed to astound me.

Some obvious examples:
-Poor little rich girl tries to seduce male lecturer in class
-Student getting a relapse of clinical depression every time a deadline draws near
-Students cutting their own wrists and scarring themselves recklessly
-Student telling me he cannot stop thinking about sex even though he tries not to
-Student wrote in their journal he hates his step-family and plan to run away from home

Like I said, these are a few glaring examples that stood out from my mind. And they are not specifically lousy students.

I try not to judge them and I cannot because they are clearly displaced and 'absent' and have no one to turn to for guidance. (And I am no counseling material either which is not the point here anyway.)

And if you remember this 19 year old NS boy who is put behind bars for bringing out the rifle out of camp. To me, he is more of a victim than a terrorist. Read more here.

Oh well, I am no participant of the whole pandemonium of baby-making business. Just an on-looker witnessing some serious social changes and 'turning a blind eye' from time to time. What is deemed 'natural' to some may not be natural to all. I just hope (most if not all) people have the wisdom to make the right choice for themselves and not merely reducing the act of having babies as 'a natural thing to do'.

The 'myth' of the 'successful superwoman' who has it all (career and children) is really very rare if not a mere media hype and state propaganda.

Latest article from ST on youth suicides.
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High tea buffet at tung lok restaurant

2008-08-26T21:50:00.003+08:00

Peng say one! When I come back to Singapore :D. And in case she forget, I made an entry (just in case). Nice thought to hang on to as I munch on my lousy sandwich :D
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Reality check

2008-08-25T20:01:00.001+08:00

Life is a constant cultural exchange being in a foreign country surrounded by foreigners. The number one remark I get from people after I tell them I am a Singaporean is (if I am lucky not to confused with the 'middle-kingdom people'):

"Oh, Singapore is very clean and efficient."
(with a very cordial and reserved smile).

In comparison with my Japanese friends, the response is a more visible form of excitement:

"OH, I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO JAPAN!"

The first time I was in this exact situation between me and my Japanese friend, it really feels like a 'Stephen Chow' moment... if you know what I mean. Kind of kanna-sai and lan-lan feeling. I do get a hang of it after a while though... no hard feelings.

But how do I really think of Singapore in a nutshell?

A tiny and over-crowded island where people compensate their stressful lifestyle by excessive eating and shopping.
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More news from Singapore

2008-08-21T00:37:00.004+08:00

Stricter rules on discrimination
It's very uplifting to learn that the government is doing more to protect pregnant women even though it's a very small step. Other aspects that came to my mind immediately are 'inappropriate' interview questions like:
Do you have any plans to have a baby soon?
Are you pregnant?
I do not go for much interviews and neither do I have any plans to have a baby. But whenever I hear of people being asked such questions especially during job interviews, it just piss me off big time.
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Rich and flawless

2008-08-19T20:30:00.005+08:00

I was reading the rally speech and chance upon something that I can relate to very personally in when I was in Paris.

PM LEE:"...the oil producers of the world have got rich. The Russians, the Arabs, they have got rich."

I don`t know about the russians but when I was shopping in Paris, there were A LOT of arabic entourage. Even though the ladies were all decked in black, they were FAR FROM PLAIN. They were in fact studded with blinding diamonds and gold jewellery peeking out of the folds of their garb. One even have a diamond-studded Mona Lisa portrait on the back of her black attire. Not subtle at all lor... Well, you can question their ¨taste¨but certainly not their genetic traits which is unparallel to none on the planet as I bear witness to their unveiled faces. The full display of the various ages of their splendid genes from the mother(s), aunts, to the daughters is simply AMAZING. They are not only obscenely rich but practically born ¨flawless¨ which makes everyone around them look like frogs. It¨s actually quite a depressing sight to behold...

ps: Every diamond studded on their body is the barrels of oil that we burn with our cars...
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Summer Holiday Part One

2008-08-16T18:06:00.002+08:00

Been back in Prague for 3 days and making sense of what I have done for the last 3 weeks. It was awesome but I still need more time to put things into perspective. The pictures helped but it's not all.

Why are people kinder on trains than on planes? The psychological effects of space on people is incredible but real. The human beings that I was traveling by plane cannot be that different from the people whom I was traveling by train right?

Well, at least one thing for sure, security is less tight on the train than plane. At the airport, everyone is a suspect unless proven otherwise. All the typical security process of scanning is never practiced at the train stations even though my passport usually raised some eyebrows at the borders...

Oh god... going places is fun.

Wien
Croatia
Paris
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Cupo's Summer Regime To Save Herself From Obesity (And Other Potential Disastrous Implication)

2008-07-20T21:02:00.004+08:00

For the past month, I have been getting down with a regime to put my body back in order which takes considerable amount of determination and more importantly, the luxury of TIME.

0900-1100 Sit-ups
It has to be aggressive, try doing 50-100 sit-ups every other day. It will definitely take you somewhere. My waistline is down by one inch so far.

0900-1100 Yoga
Sun Salutation is really not my favourite but the truth is, if I choose to skip S.S. preceding the rest of the asanas, it will only yield half of the intended result. In short, it pays to plough through the 12 sets of S.S. before getting into anything else. Some of my all-time favourite asanas (after S.S.) are Triangle Pose (and variations), Pigeon, Head-stand, Shoulder-stand, Backbends. These combination helps me 'straighten out' my spine that clears my head and wakes up my digestive system. If I breathe with vigor in the respective asanas, the skin clears up significantly as well. If it all sounds too good to be true for you, bear in mind that the perfect combination of breathing and moving is not easy to achieve. Yoga takes concentration and practice but the flesh is weak and the mind wonders...

1100-1200 Brunch
I have recently become a big fan of oat/milk/honey meal. This gooey combination used to be what I considered the most disgusting looking food ever invented. But now, I just cannot get enough of it and it makes me feel fantastic too. Supplemented with 2 pieces of toast with preferred cheese and decaffeinated ginger/lemon tea.

1700-1800 Dinner
By now, I am totally famished! I was on brown rice for a week but it was too time-consuming to cook so I guess the habit will not stick even though it makes me feel satisfied and light. I am now back to white rice/buckwheat noodles with combinations of tofu, mushrooms, green green vegetables (<<--thanks to the Vietnamese population for keeping a good flow and variety of kangkong, chye sim, etc) minced pork, eggs, chicken. Yogurt, fruits, ice-cream, chocolates, cookies upon availability for deserts. Well, I basically eat whatever I want only to remind myself to eat slowly so that I don't feel like a python who have just swallowed a cow.

1800-1900 Nap
A short nap is really a fantastic way to aid digestion.

2100-2200 Hot Bath
This is the ultimate (obscene and practically daily) luxury. I think each bath takes at least 30 litres of steaming water to fill up the tub which feels really politically incorrect. I am not paying for utilities so I am not feeling the pinch. Anyway, steam bath is really addictive especially when it is so hot that it takes about 20 min for the perspiration oozing out from the open pores (after coming out from the bath immediately) to evaporate completely before slapping on different pedigrees of moisturizer all over.

Well, the results are noticeable but not obvious since I am still eating to my desires. Most importantly, my clothes are no longer bursting from the seams and my tummy is not amalgamating with my breasts. My complexion has also improved considerably since I became a fan of botanicus.cz. Unfortunately (but very exciting too), the regimen will be interrupted for at least 3 weeks as I am starting my summer travels to Wien-Zagreb-Dubrovnik-Paris from 23.07 to 12.08.

My Summer Regime To Save Myself From Obesity (And Other Potential Disastrous Implication) will resume after that.
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Winnietan.com

2008-07-09T22:13:00.004+08:00

Winnietan.com is finally up.
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The Art of Torture

2008-06-24T03:42:00.002+08:00

Living in Prague for almost 9 months give me some insights on the art of torture.
1) Immerse subject in an enclosed room full of people speaking in a foreign (incomprehensible) language (for hours) and expect subject to understand something.
2) Immerse subject in constant daylight, before, during and after bedtime.
3) Allow subject no access to plain warm water after incessant flow of badly-cooked food and alcohol.
4) Expect subject to enjoy alcohol at all times <--(maybe this may shed some light on how people can actually DIE of dehydration during summer).
t.b.c...
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Bea-ewe-uuu-tee-ful

2008-06-23T23:33:00.004+08:00

When I first arrived, people used to tell me Czech women are reputedly beautiful. I did not understand why. Now I think I do. If big breasts equates to beauty, Czech women are indeed quite extraordinary.
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Not another astronomical clock

2008-06-20T03:56:00.001+08:00

I don't have a problem with astronomical clocks. In fact, I think they are amazing. It's just that I can't understand why would the czechs be so obsessed with such precision of time-telling when they have absolutely no urgency of time-passing. Alright, no bitching. I had a great over the weekend at Moravia.
Olomoc
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Unjustified

2008-06-08T18:54:00.000+08:00

When we were younger and if father happened to have dinner with us. He will most definitely ask either Jerry or me to cut up a big platter of fruits, which we both dread very much. Father hardly need to raise his voice at us but the idea of 'no' to father is never an option we ever entertained. Of course, we would whisper our grouses to mother at the kitchen as she does the dishes.
'Why can't father do it himself since he is the only one who wants cut fruits?'
'Why can't he just bite from the apple?'
And mother will reply along the line of...
'Well, because father has dentures and he can only take small pieces of fruits.'
'He likes variety but he can't take quantity.'
blah, blah, blah...

These days if I have an option, I would choose to cut my fruits. My teeth are in perfect condition but I just enjoy having them in small pieces. And best of all, I don't have to justify why.

Many times when I look back at myself as a child, I think I would strangle myself to death if I have a child like myself.

Picture updates on
New Flat
End of 2nd Semester
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MAY! Kveten 2008

2008-05-26T07:28:00.003+08:00

Cool links I came upon at asiaone
Just broke up? Get a day off
Want to keep your man happy? Treat him like a dog
And MY May Pix
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D.I.Y. (outcome)

2008-04-23T22:39:00.002+08:00

It really needs a good trim... when I have the time... and a free pair of hands.
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I am/(am not) Chinese

2008-04-21T01:22:00.005+08:00

Chinese-speaking Czech:" 你是中國人!"
Me(smiling):" 不，我是新加坡人."
Chinese-speaking Czech:" 都不是漢人嗎！"
Me(smiling and thinking to myself):" ya right, 漢人... and my mother is小龍女lor..."

I hope I don't get roped into an ethnic frenzy where I have to identify myself as a problematic 'Chinese' identity in the midst of all these Tibet, Olympics, anti-western media protests... I am really only a Singaporean...
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春眠

2008-04-20T14:46:00.005+08:00

周末，冰雨，午後，吃爆，睡覺

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D.I.Y.

2008-04-20T14:35:00.002+08:00

Cutting my own hair was an immensely liberating and weight-lifting experience. And I wonder why I never thought about doing it till now...

AND

I got a goody pack from Fyen! Thanks Ms Wong :D

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Duben (únor, březen)

2008-04-14T14:25:00.003+08:00

Everytime I look into the mirror, I tell myself it could have been worse...
Outstanding updates on work and workmates
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Lost in Translation...

2008-03-26T14:51:00.003+08:00

I received an email from my professor which is great because it means that I am part of the 'family'. But the thing is... if only I know what it means. An online dictionary doesn't help much though...

Milí přátelé,
povinnost volá, pro mě velmi příjemná - zítra se opět objevím ve svým rodným atelieru tak asi v 9 ráno a moc se na všechny těšim.
fr.

Milí favour ,
task frill , sake myself nearly sweetness tomorrow to anew find under svým native studio now aromatically within 9 morrow plus sway to within všechny cheer.
fr.
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The Path of Progress is Only Towards a Less Inequality

2008-02-25T15:30:00.001+08:00

I came across this free article in straits times online and I thought maybe it's free that's why. But still, it never fail to amuse me why the national paper loves to run articles like "What's wrong with the Singapore women? Why are they so hard to please? Why are they so contradictory? What is the double-standard of Gender Equality!! blah, blah shit..." (anyway, I thought they have resolved the problem by mass-importing some Vietnamese brides?)

Sexism-Gender Inequality

My first and vivid memory (age of 6-9 yrs old, in the intense period of 1980-84 due to the frequency of events) of (celebrated) sexism as a visual spectacle was witnessing the order at which dinner was consumed at my maternal grandparents' which consisted of like 14 uncles/in-laws+aunties/in-laws+my parents, 12 cousins+me and 3 siblings. The men eat at the dinning hall, the children and women eat in both the inner and outer kitchens. Dinner will 'commence' and everyone will 'start' eating 'together'. All seems almost harmonious and flawless except for the fact that I never digest my food well...

Well, in terms of logistics, a system of order should indeed be enforced in case all hell breaks lose into some barbaric chaos (and I certainly would have a very different memory of my childhood). But what amazes me (now) is the willingness and compliance in the people 'fulfilling' their roles and playing 'the game'. Almost like drama rehearsals if you ask me, every week if not every fortnight. And of course, the name of the play is (perversely) call "HARMONY", any public display of conflict was never witnessed.

There can only be 2 makes of produce in a system like this, the advocate and the skeptic (one can never come out of it neutral...). Comparing myself to my predecessors, I have inherited very little tolerance or if you would call it 'respect'.

In short, the only form of justice that I believe one can practice is towards oneself. Anyone who expect justice or equality to be bestowed upon them would probably live in vain. Equality is a myth. The path of progress is only towards a less inequality. So I hope the next person who make any claim on equality would just shut up!

PS: I think Freud would diagnose my 'one-nostril' breathing problem is due to a stifling childhood. My other childhood ailment - the stomachache, all went away 2 years after my grandfather passed away as family dinners of such eventually ceased... I think I am very susceptible to negative energy. Or maybe it could also be the rooster and rabbit thing too...

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Money Lessons

2008-02-15T16:09:00.002+08:00

When I first arrived in Prague, one of the many headache matters, or rather the 'mother' of all headache matters is money matters. Not that I am ill-prepared of the sums, but more in terms of how to manage them wisely and effectively in the banking system that is quite different from Singapore. Not to mention having to manage two currencies -CZK and EURO.

So by the time I left Citibank Prague after like 2-3 hrs of (repeat) explanations about 'the system', I had five accounts in all, in both czk and euro, of savings, current, investment and time deposits. I was edgy about the whole ordeal for a long time ( because it's really tough to register what do the five accounts entail!?!?!) and most certainly apprehensive over the decisions I had made but eventually manage to not think about it and adopted a more - "Done my best and hope for the best" attitude.

In a nutshell, I was upset with the bank that I have to convert half of my resource to czk (let's exclude the details here), because I don't see myself using that much czk since euro is what I plan to use for travel and pay school fees with. However, the recent weakening of the euro has unexpectedly created a pleasant surprise for myself especially since I was so determined to believe I have lost unaccountable money in the midst of all the currency conversions from sgd-euro-czk.

The euro has weakened but the czk ( and sgd too) has remained very stable.
Therefore my previous budget of 2500 euro has taken on the new value as follows:
>>(then) 2 500euro = 5 500sgd = 66 000czk
>>(now) 2 500euro = 62 500czk = 5 200sgd

And of course the beauty is I can pay my school fees in czk which is pegged to the euro. Sometimes it's good to not think too much, just do it. The fate is already all in the stars (anyway)...
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Forever Fever 1998

2008-02-03T13:13:00.000+08:00

I have done a post and I still can't sleep. So I did a search on my name. This is what I found HERE It's amazing that I have a record as an actress of a receptionist role from 'Forever Fever' and of course it's me (in case you are thinking it's an accidental coincidence). Ah Kiong had more takes as a dancer than me( I think)... So silly but fun. I just remembered I cannot bear to look at myself in the mirror...
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REJECTION IS A FORM OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT

2008-02-03T12:10:00.001+08:00

Why am I thinking about Charlotta Kotik's opening statement on her lecture on Contemporary Art at 3:59am on Sunday?

I was woken up by my neighbor's fucking pandemonium.

It was beyond my imagination that any human being could generate the amount of noise like the way she did.
1) Fucking aside.
2) Her rhythmic din she refers to as music.
3) Her deafening heels that emits a 10m radius of reverberation.
4) Her acute style of perpetual coughing (I thought she was going to die but she did not)
5) Her blaring Ukrainian language...

Zuzana was candid enough to tell her to stuff socks in her mouth. I am thinking of a respond with an appropriate repercussion that is more deserving for her to bear.
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I am so fat I hate myself

2008-01-28T04:18:00.000+08:00

I am whining about my fat body that is bursting through the seams of my clothes literally. But what else do I expect when I am eating the way I am eating. And the most dangerous things is, everyone says I look so thin. Well, the truth is everyone here is so overweight and I seriously cannot take their comment seriously at all.

I recently received a body length mirror from Katrien Light who is going home to Rotterdam. Thus sparks this reality-check. Life sucks when you are old and fat. I wonder what will I look like if not for the one hundred sit-ups I did everyday without fail? In fact I was doing two hundred during december to combat the cold. My waist is now inching very close to thirty. Such injustice... SIGH...

Life is hard. Not only do you have to work for your money, you also have to work hard for your looks. Or rather, work hard for the way you want to look and to be... I guess I just have to work harder and find other ways of rewarding myself other than food.

It's not OK to be fat Winnie Tan!!!!
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Leden Praha

2008-01-18T08:13:00.000+08:00

My blogger interface is officially in czech. So smart can die which totally pisses me off!! Lagi make me more inefficient than ever. Well, always in a rush as usual and I shall dispense with words since pictures speak a thousand. enjoy the pictorial updates!!
SNOW
CESKY KRUMLOV
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What are they thinking?!

2007-12-24T04:32:00.000+08:00

So painful to watch. I can't believe that the MDA actually spend $$$$$ to do such things ~!@#$%^&*()_+. Oh man, it could just be a desperate attempt to use up the budget before it 'expires'. This video makes my heart pain ($$$) and my stomach cringe (puke).
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Listopad Praha

2007-12-12T01:56:00.000+08:00

The semester is coming to an end in the next 2 weeks and we finally met up with the vice-rector of the school who previously had no idea that the ownership of the Masters Program was bequeathed upon her. Strange but true. And yes, I hate to admit it but I am experiencing problems with the school management (again).
Well, it never fail to amaze me that schools are so eager to advertise themselves internationally when they do not have the means or know-how to do so. http://www.vsup.cz
On a happier note, the first draft of my typeface and three publications are out. So now, I have to think about printing and binding and looking for the right people for help.
New pictures up at Food, People and Berlin
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Rijen Praha

2007-11-03T16:13:00.000+08:00

I finally put something together for the first month! There is so much happening but of course I have to be selective. And yes Simon, I did cry!!! And a very hearty one, right in front of my dorm-mates. It was sheer anger when I was re-counting how pissed-off I was with the mac-guy. Everyone was absolutely dumb-founded...hahaha. It's amazing how emotionally dependent I am on my mac. Well, eventually I got it fixed and yes, there are some nice Czech people around. But I also believe that some Czech people wish they are still under the Communist regime too. http://www.winnietan.com/life/rijen_praha2007/
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Just like school days (almost)

2007-09-25T18:17:00.000+08:00

Look at what ah mah has done for me! :)
http://www.epochdesignstudio.com/invitationCard/farewell.htm
http://www.epochdesignstudio.com/invitationCard/
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The heart has its reasons which reasons does not know - Blaise Pascal

2007-09-24T23:59:00.000+08:00

Time takes away everything. Good things. Bad things. Happiness. Sadness. What's left behind is really just you and what you choose to remember.
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It's better to be hated for what one is than loved for what one is not - Andre Gide

2007-09-19T23:34:00.000+08:00

I think this card arrives very timely to sum up my teaching career for now.
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risk factor

2007-09-12T23:45:00.000+08:00

I have a new conviction
that I woke up with one day (recently).

Just like the day
when it felt right to shave my head.

Risk = Hope

No risk, no hope.
But of course it has to be calculated ones.

I have re-invested almost all my CPF and it feels quite right to do so. And with that, I have a high-risk profile for my portfolio now…
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dsswhb aka 睡香

2007-09-12T23:24:00.000+08:00

My body finally recalls the act of acquiring a quality routine of deep sinking sleep with hearty breathing, which is also known (to me) as aggressive sleeping. Aggressive sleeping rejuvenates the body, facilitates digestion and detoxify. Passive sleeping retains water in the body, makes it lethargic and accumulates fats. I have been experiencing the latter form of sleep for at least the past one month. I can’t even recall when I lost the former. But now it’s back. Boy, am I glad!
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Meeting Iskandar

2007-08-19T00:48:00.000+08:00

Pictures up at http://www.winnietan.com/life/iskandar/
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Pissful things

2007-08-18T23:05:00.000+08:00

I would be lying if I insist I am not worried. In fact, I am so stressed out until I got headache, backache, neck pain… It’s self-inflicted, some would say. But who doesn’t want to remain carefree, innocent, free-spirited and child-like forever?

“I saw/know someone who looks exactly like you!”
I have lost count how many times I received comments of such. Even my cousin swore she ‘saw’ me somewhere when I am actually nowhere.

Now that I have got my lizard trap, that bloody thing is nowhere in sight or sound, no trace of its shit whatsoever!

41 days to Prague...
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Super cool interest rates!

2007-07-18T12:06:00.000+08:00

Check out super cool interest rates from STANDARD CHARTERED BANK! http://www.standardchartered.com.sg/cb/deposit/dep_esaver_ac.html
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Post a picture of your work space

2007-07-17T23:21:00.000+08:00

Fabby needs distraction. Here it is! :)
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Sale

2007-07-17T11:16:00.000+08:00

Anyone keen to buy a 2.5 year old Sony Vaio?
http://vaio-online.sony.com/prod_info/pcg-k86p/specifications.html
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Reap and sow

2007-07-16T23:27:00.000+08:00

In less than a year my cholesterol level raised by 16mg/dL. To be precise, I am currently at the brink of ‘borderline high’.

When I got my ‘close-to-perfect’ reading last year, I thought it would take me ‘never’ to cross the bar. I was obviously wrong.

I am really amazed by the pretty immediate consequence in my adjustment in my diet. I was loading on red meat diligently for the past few months (to build mass for my yoga). Lousy plan I guess… Now I am fat and overloaded with cholesterol.
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I like

2007-07-16T23:25:00.000+08:00

你渴望细水长流的恋情, 他却冲动躁进, 你对他而言是难以承受之重，他对你而，真的是難以承受之轻浮。
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Birth/death day

2007-07-04T22:26:00.000+08:00

Yenny, a fellow rabbit, left us after the birth of her daughter on the 2nd July 2007 in Jarkata.

Dearest Yenny, wherever you are...

The past is history. The future, a mystery.
But we will hold dear our memories of you,
your smile, the sound of your laughter...forever.

You have lived a long and wonderful life, and was
loved by all who knew you. You will be dearly missed,
but will live on in our hearts for generations.

Yenny... you live with us in memory and will for
evermore.

Your friendship was an inspriration, your love a
blessing.

To know you was to love you.

Goodbye to a wonderful friend. Rest peacefully, dear.

We'll miss you!

On behalf of all her friends in Singapore,
Wati Ali
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Longevity

2007-06-22T00:49:00.000+08:00

My heart sank before I could even finish the first sentence of my ‘emperor’s stargate’ reading which goes like this:
“The scholar (star) in the Self sector indicates longevity…”

I find it very disheartening to learn that I will live a l—o—n—g life.
Anticipating a l—o—n—g life means I have to work harder in my useful years to sustain my more useless ones ahead. Even though it may not be true (with influences of other stars in the other houses), the remotest possibility of living a l—o—n—g is pretty demoralizing.

In fact, it almost feels like a curse…

If I have accumulated any good karma at all in the first place, I will have no wish for longevity.
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Funmobile go to hell

2007-06-21T23:55:00.000+08:00

260607: FUNMOBILE has changed the design of the webpage that started all the trouble. Therefore the same url shows the 'improved' design now http://sg.funmobile.com/registration!input.do I have unfortunately not done a screen capture of the previous design.

I BESEECH SOCIETY TO CONDONE UNSOUND E-COMMERCE PRACTICE

If you do a search for – ‘ringtones-rainbow connection’ via google, it will bring you to Free Ringtones at http://sg.funmobile.com/registration!input.do

This is what I did one month back, which brought me to the issue I am addressing today. I was charged S$39.92 for nothing I download from http://sg.funmobile.com/registration!input.do

The website was clearly misleading and manipulative. It made me feel that I was registering for free ringtones. I log-in only once and never again after I realized there was nothing in http://sg.funmobile.com/registration!input.do that I was looking for.

I was not accessing my mobile after one month and realized 4 sms was sent to me with the following content:
4help: 64383511
2Q txt STOP MO to 77123
$9.98 billed

I immediately dialed the mentioned number to clarify the situation. It took me at least 8 attempts to dial the helpline in a span of 2 hours to finally get through. I explained my situation and state that it will be unfair that I should be charged for literally nothing. It was clear that http://sg.funmobile.com/registration!input.do did not share my sentiments.

To me, this is clearly an unsound e-commerce practice by an online merchant that was endorsed by STARHUB MOBILE. My ‘inactive account subscription plan’ with http://sg.funmobile.com/registration!input.do was on an auto-renewal system and not upon ‘on request’ by me, the user, who happen not to be accessing her sms for a month.

For the first time in my e-lifestyle, I felt tricked and cheated by this local company http://sg.funmobile.com/registration!input.do whom is a partner of STARHUB MOBILE. I beseech the society to condone unsound e-commerce practice especially by online merchants whose target audience is primarily the young and vulnerable. Allowing such online merchants to continue such unsound business practice will invariably led our young to think that is the status-quo of an e-lifestyle, which is clearly not right.

I hope my concern creates awareness for people who care about promoting a safer and more conducive e-lifestyle for the young and helping them to make more discerning choices in online purchases with responsible online merchants.
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Darwin's theory gone wrong

2007-05-29T23:34:00.000+08:00

The only physical traits I inherit from my dad is his calves and feet which is orangutan-gigantic on me. And whatever Darwin said did not happen on me - on the theory of the survival of the fittest genes :(

I feel like an old chick looking at dad's teenage picture. He will never know what I am like at 32.
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No gain, no pain

2007-05-19T21:52:00.000+08:00

My cousins receive gifts like semi-detached properties and cars for their birthdays and weddings. This is their family tradition where my mum came from.

However, to be more specific, that is not all there is to this tradition. They also practice brazen discrimination of diverse forms resulting in bigotry, sexism, favoritism, chauvinism and all other blahs, blahs that they are united by.

My grandparents brought up 11 children under this discriminatory tradition with varying outcomes. My mum, as a produce of this unique system, has never ceased to express her awe and honor despite being a victim.

!?#%*&(???#@!!!!!

In short

Rich people create their own universe and create their own believers.
I am glad my mum is not rich and has no universe to call her own.
For I will be the faithless believer who creates consequences that I might not have the strength to bear.

Lalalalalala…
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A Tear is an Intellectual Thing

2007-05-16T12:01:00.001+08:00

Do we cry because we are sad or Are we sad because we cry? Find out for yourself

If you think that Woody Allen has nothing optimistic to offer to the world, here’s something pretty upbeat from ‘Hannah and her Sisters’: “The heart is a very resilient muscle.”

As an adult, I don’t really get a lot of exposure to pregnant women (other than my mum’s last pregnancy of my youngest brother which bears only vague memory). When I was a teenager however, there was a period when I visualize pregnant women as ‘walking bombs’. My mind could even conjure images of tummy explosion, which is pure repulsion.

Lately, I had my face and hair done on separate occasions by pregnant women. It was a very unsettling experience. The closest word I can think of right now is ‘creepy’.

Pregnant women, I feel, possess a very different sort of electro-magnetic field that disturbs mine. Call it alien, extra-terrestrial or unexplainable. I simply call it creepy.
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In Freud's term, it's hysteric...

2007-05-12T21:48:00.000+08:00

It’s been more than 10 years… almost 16 to be exact since the actual event. And I am still re-living the moment till this day. I dreamt about collecting my ‘O’levels results again.

It’s one of my life’s worst experiences, which never seems to have left, always back to haunt. The overwhelming sense of guilt for not completing my chemistry revision remains a self-inflicted awful memory.

Ludicrous.

Fine. If I have any regrets in my life, my dreams have in so many ways been telling me, is that I have not dutifully completed my Chemistry revision for my ‘O’ levels.
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Prague 2007

2007-03-31T19:49:00.000+08:00

Too long never blog liao...
I accidentally deleted my Prague entry
:X

Things to share

2007-02-27T21:27:00.000+08:00

Flower asks me to collate my discount/membership cards so that we know who got what. So this is my humble list:

Metro – 10%
Espirit – 10%
Body Shop -10%
Tom & Stephanie – 10%
Origins – 10%

And

If you are a Starhub or UOB account holder, don’t forget to claim your rewards.
If you are contemplating to sign up Leonard Drake, do let me know.
If you are looking for good foot reflexology, I recommend 万阳.
If you are looking for best fares to Europe, Anthony Pek from 安安Travel provides satisfactory service.
If you believe the next economic crisis is round the corner, I hope you are prepared for it.
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My dear body

2007-02-26T23:23:00.000+08:00

The x-ray is not crooked, my spine is.

‘The alignment of the spine shows a mild scoliosis. Disc spaces are preserved and the vertical heights are normal. No spondylolisthesis is seen.’

My awesome spine aside, I have put on weight lately.

Nope, it’s not the ‘I look so fat in the mirror’ kind, it’s the ‘I can’t breathe very well in my clothes’ sort.

I remember when I was much younger and I saw old aunties who wear really tight clothes. I thought it was simply a lack of self-awareness. Thinking back, now I believe it to be more of an ‘I can’t be bothered to change my entire wardrobe’ kind of resignation.
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Figure drawing 2

2007-02-24T15:53:00.000+08:00

Figure-drawing is a channel for me to realize how unnecessarily complex and clouded one’s mind is. Life could be so wonderful if one can be simpler.
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Truth is

2007-02-24T01:39:00.000+08:00

It’s been 7 years since dad passed away. I hate to admit but he has become a very vague and distant memory in my mind.

As a child, I always thought that my parents’ marriage will not survive my childhood. In fact, one of the most vivid memories as a child is the anticipation of the separation since my mum says she will divorce my dad all the time.

Now that the last memory of dad is fading away and weird as it may sound, it felt like everything is finally the way it should have always been.
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Nirvana I

2006-12-28T21:29:00.000+08:00

Of the many things that one do not understand why people do what they do, it's a good reminder to tell oneself that one is simply not in their shoes.
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Just Another Perfectionist

2006-10-16T17:09:00.000+08:00

What do Hitler and Mother Teresa have in common?
They both felt our world could have been a better place.

“I am often accused of interfering in the private lives of citizens. Yet, if I did not, had I not done that, we wouldn’t be here today. And I say without the slightest remorse, that we wouldn’t be here, we would not have made economic progress, if we had not intervened on very personal matters – who your neighbour is, how you live, the noise you make, how you spit, or what language you use. We decide what is right. Never mind what the people think. That’s another problem.” -LKY
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“与我遨游”的《誰懂》

2006-10-12T12:15:00.000+08:00

寂寞是一個懂你卻又離你而去的人,留下來的蹤跡
如果不曾有這某人的經過,又怎懂 ‘寂寞‘？

懂也只是剎那嶺悟,今天懂的不代表明天也懂
似懂非懂，也只累人累己

嬗變的人纇是不容意懂的
以我之見,你是辛福的！
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Don’t even think about going to a brothel if you have no money

2006-10-08T17:41:00.000+08:00

Design is a service you pay to use. Like any forms of service, you must know what you buy and how you want to use it. Designers need to be managed, not unlike teachers, programmers or engineers. These people cannot be managed the same way because NUS can’t be run the way that Saatchi & Saatchi is run nor the way Creative Technology is run nor Keppel Shipping is run.

Neither do you tell a designer how to design like you do not tell a teacher how to teach, a programmer how to program, otherwise you might as well do it yourself. So for those who are thinking of hiring a service, I hope you ask yourself who do want to hire and why, what you are paying for and how you want to use it.

However, if you have no budget, don’t even think about anything.
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Kanna Sai

2006-10-07T16:54:00.000+08:00

I use the word – ‘kanna sai’ a lot. In fact I use it so much until I start to wonder what it really means. ‘kanna sai’, in its denotative term means – just like shit. I have been keeping track of my many ‘kanna sai’ moments and have derived at my list of connotative terms as follows:

You win lor
You got guts
Go to hell
None of your business
You are such a bloody show-off
You are hopeless
You are so selfish
You are so mean you will burn in hell

I think ‘kanna-sai’ is an amazing word.
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The best things in life are free

2006-10-07T16:52:00.000+08:00

One of the greatest gratifications in life is to give the best of what your body deserves without having to burn your pockets. Quality sleep and waking up to clear skin is a major factor in my state of happiness which lately is enhanced with a warm feet bath before bedtime. It really works wonders and anyone should try it. For extras: top up with moisturizer after the bath and calm your body by drinking some warm water. It definitely sets your body ready to an effective and recuperative rest. A well-rested body is definitely a kinder and more beautiful one :)
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WH is back!

2006-09-26T12:05:00.000+08:00

Whitney Houston is finally getting a divorce and Class95 can’t seem to play enough of her songs lately. Really can’t help it but it really feels like a celebration anticipating her much awaited career revival!
:D
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Think and speak

2006-09-26T12:03:00.000+08:00

Sometimes when one thinks too much, one may cease to speak. And sometimes when one speaks too much, one may cease to think.
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Mum...

2006-09-26T11:37:00.000+08:00

My mum always says (is still saying and probably will forever do so) that we have all turn out so far (and obviously short) from her expectations.

I used to think that I need a fairy god-mother; little did I realize she needs it more than I do
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How unexplainably complex…

2006-09-14T11:33:00.000+08:00

It’s been quite a while since I got my Health Screen results and I have been poring over them for the longest time. There were over 60 itemized results from the various tests done with names that I can find no ways to pronounce…

Anyway, I have passed this test with flying colors for now (otherwise the doctor would have had made a personal call) with all my values within safe range except for my Neutrophil which is off -0.2 from the recommended range. As Neutrophil is a component of the white blood cells, my overall blood count is still ok.

The next thing that comes to my attention is the CA125, which is a cancer marker for ovarian cancer. Although my range is far from the ‘alarm range’ >36,it still has a VALUE of 11... I think this can be 0 though.

Well well, no point really obsessing about any particular component since:

“…fate of each species is determined by the diverse actions of scores or hundreds of other species that variously photosynthesize, browse, graze, decompose, hunt, fall prey, and turn soil around the target species.” - Consilience, Edward O. Wilson
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Fun deed of late 3

2006-09-11T00:21:00.000+08:00

We were at Turi Beach Resort Batam for our 3rd Yoga Retreat.
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Recht mitten in nirgendwo

2006-09-08T12:51:00.000+08:00

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Pointless thoughts

2006-09-05T23:08:00.000+08:00

You wonder from a seat on a train if the woman standing in front of you is pregnant or just plain fat?
You wonder how dare this "guy" barge into the Ladies and occupy a cubicle like any other females?
And does Kumar use the Gents or Ladies?

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What a HIT!

2006-09-04T12:23:00.000+08:00

I know this is not new, however this is the first time I finally get round to hearing this at BROWN SHOW
Also more laughs at SMILES
And Thousand Years to Royston's AH BENG!
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高人说《喝水之道》

2006-08-31T19:36:00.000+08:00

高人说，喝水的原则，以慢为妙
喝上一口，再慢慢吞
一杯可以喝上一小时

喝太快不算‘喝’而是‘灌’
‘灌’式对身体虽无害，但也无意
‘喝’式不但能减少排尿频率，也更有效余人体吸收

高人还说了不少其他的原则
我斩时听不进了
我只想专心学会《喝水之道》
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Look at Peng!

2006-08-25T01:14:00.000+08:00

Peng is so good at imagining that she can see me. Click on image to see Peng in action :)
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Think less, See more

2006-08-24T10:56:00.000+08:00

It's been such a long time doing figure drawing with a life model. And I was also seeing too little and thinking too much... as pointed out by the teacher who would come by and flail my wrist and elbow frantically from time to time. But it was definitely wonderful, a very pure moment.
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http://www.superfate.com.tw/22_free_8word/

2006-08-20T23:30:00.000+08:00

◎您是幸運的星辰，最有福氣，物質生活無虞。熱情有禮，喜歡有智慧，守承諾的人。個性聰明靈巧，學習能力強，但做事卻常常只有五分鐘熱度。◎

根據命理來分析您的個性，潛意識，以及行為模式，您是屬於「星辰命」，因此您天生具有星辰的特質，天上的星辰閃爍不定，因此您思考比較快速，也容易有五分鐘熱度。星辰雖多，但光亮不如日月，因此您比較不喜歡出風頭，也不喜歡給人很強勢的感覺。星辰光芒不強，只照耀某些地方，因此您比較感性，好惡分明，您願意為喜歡的人犧牲奉獻，但是對於不喜歡的人卻不想往來。星辰高掛天空，看盡世間，因此您天生就很聰明靈巧，學習能力強，對事物有多方面的興趣，也能侃侃而談，但卻有滾石不生苔的問題，缺乏堅持到底的毅力。

此外，您喜歡老實誠信的人，不喜歡自以為是的人，而能讓您佩服的人，多半是有想法，才華與智慧的人，能夠在心靈上讓您提昇的人。您的一生，像星辰一樣，明亮閃爍，受到眾人矚目，但是星辰並非隨時都光彩奪目，有時也會光芒黯淡，這時就是您的磨練，只要您經得起外在的考驗，不怨天尤人，進而學習成長，一旦通過考驗，您的成就將不可限量，是領袖級的人物。

◎您本命五行火太旺，心血管機能比較弱，容易有高血壓，高血脂，心跳，婦科的問題。◎

根據命理分析，您天生心血管功能比較差，在年輕的時候不會有太大的問題，頂多是長青春痘，口舌生瘡，經期比較久，量比較少等問題，但是如果您現在不照顧心血管及內分泌系統，隨著年紀越來越大就很容易有高血壓、高血脂、心跳不正常、眼壓過高的問題，甚至容易導致心血管功能異常、內分泌系統異常、腸阻塞脹氣、心律不整、心室肥大、腦溢血、中風、視力病變、婦科疾病等問題。因此您不能過度勞累，要維持正常作息，早睡早起，才可以保護先天比較弱的心血管功能。此外，請您要定時檢查心血管功能，更要注意家族裡是否有遺傳性的心血管病史，由於體質偏向心虛血弱，所以盡量不要喝冰的飲料，以免傷了元氣。

此外，所謂「病從口入」，人類大部分的疾病來源都跟飲食有關，根據中醫理論，食物可以分成金、木、水、火、土等五種五行。您似乎應該蠻能接受帶有苦味的食物，例如黑咖啡，巧克力等，應該都符合您的口味。因此，您的細胞中，充滿太多「火」的五行，會導致健康，財運與事業的不圓滿建議您平時最好能飲食均衡，菜色均衡，則陰陽五行調和，生活美滿幸福。

◎但是您八字缺金，呼吸系統機能也比較弱，容易呼吸不順，感冒咳嗽，或有氣喘等症狀。◎

根據命理分析，您天生呼吸系統功能比較差，在年輕的時候不會有太大的問題，頂多是容易鼻子過敏、流鼻水、咳嗽、感冒、胸悶、腹瀉或便秘，但隨著年紀越來越大，呼吸系統需要更多的照顧，不然很容易導致鼻竇炎、氣喘、肺炎、支氣管炎、大腸息肉、直腸炎等問題。因此您不能過度勞累，而且千萬不能抽菸，要維持正常作息，早睡早起，才可以保護先天比較弱的呼吸系統。

此外，您是屬於比較隨性的類型，凡事方便就好，因此不會很注重居住空間以及工作環境的品質。您做事情也比較心急，缺乏耐心，所以您與其他人相處的關係並不是那麼的融洽，也缺少貴人的提攜。如果您想改變這種現象，要開始練習腹式呼吸，此外，要保持週邊環境的空氣新鮮，通風順暢，尤其晚上睡覺的時候，臥房千萬不可緊閉門窗。只要您體內的氧氣充足，那您的命運將會有很大的改變，身體健康，財運順利，事業圓滿，家庭幸福。

◎簡易愛情分析，您是屬於柏拉圖式的精神愛情。您的愛情因為雙方生活背景差異大，價值觀也有落差，因此對方並不容易真正瞭解您，其實只要您們多溝通，讓對方瞭解自己真正的想法，相處就不會有問題。◎

您愛情的模式，根據命理分析，您對於心儀的異性，很容易心動，但對方常常沒有行動，您也不好意思倒過來追求，所以常常無疾而終。一般來說，異性對您的第一印象都不會太深，您是需要經過交往的階段，異性才會發現您的氣質，優點與內在美。換句話說，您很容易第一眼就喜歡上一個人，如果您剛開始不喜歡這個人，經過長時間相處也不會喜歡上他。相反地，您的戀愛對象不容易第一眼就喜歡上您，卻很可能經過長時間相處而喜歡上您。因此，如果您在等待美好的愛情，您可以試著把自己的內在美透過各種方式表現出來，多參加各種活動，多培養各種興趣，多接觸不同人群，如此您會在不知不覺中，讓您的內在美隨時展現，愛情才會更順利。

在人生的旅程中，您的戀愛或結婚對象很有可能是先經由親友介紹或相親而認識，因為您對於愛情比較不太有經驗，也不善於包裝自己、行銷自己，有時更怯於表達自己的感情，碰到喜歡的人也多半停留在欣賞的階段，不僅不容易給對方一點暗示，更不會表白或倒追，因此不僅錯失許多機會，更在心中產生既期待又怕受傷害的感覺，反而更不容易擦出愛的火花。您若是對象還沒有出現，不要心急，在您身邊確定有人正喜歡著您，只要您真心誠意給對方一點暗示，幸福就在您身邊。

◎簡易財運事業分析，您會賺錢，但不容易守財，也不容易經由儲蓄累積財富。您對於生命比較達觀，不會對自己或家人朋友太小氣。◎

根據命理分析，您會賺錢，但是不容易守財，也就是不容易經由儲蓄累積財富。您對於生命比較達觀，因此不會對自己，也不會對家人或朋友太小氣。在您手頭比較緊的時候，該花的錢您還是會花，不會一毛不拔；在您手頭比較寬裕的時候，您花錢會很大方，不會對自己、家人或朋友小氣，正因為如此，您當然不容易存錢。此外，您很容易因為朋友的介紹而做了某些投資，而且常常虧本。這是因為您的個性交遊廣闊，也認識很多人，所以當朋友來找您投資時，您不容易分辨風險，也不容易拒絕，所以當然很容易虧本。如果以一生的時間來衡量，您今生大部份的財富會被您拿來做自己想做的事情，您會認為您使用過的錢財才是您真正擁有的財富。之後，這些財富大半會遺留給子孫。
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National Day Rally Speech

2006-08-20T23:00:00.000+08:00

I feel much stressed out for the Prime Minister because I don’t connect very well with his speech this year, which btw lasted more than 2 hours with 4 sips of water.

Other than the usual home-front stuff like helping the poor, progressive development of the Malays, persisting healthcare concerns, upgrading skills-sets, etc, the Prime Minister finally gave up nagging on the lack of babies! Instead, he professed it’s an area that he has no control over so the government will be moving into Plan B to accommodate immigrants to make up for the lack. So I guess instead of ‘Romancing Singapore’ campaigns, we will soon have ‘Love Foreigners’ campaigns.

Other things that made me queasy as follows:

We should model after the Hong Kong economy < Does that mean everyone will have to hold 2 jobs?

NTU is collaborating with a big Japanese Anime company because we are 40% cheaper < So I am suppose to tell my students that they are special because they are cheap?

Love the foreigners < Easier said than done. Think about the existing PRC masseurs here.

And apparently the IMF meeting is so important that the Prime Minister also take the chance to remind Singaporeans about the’ 4-million smiles’ campaign when the visitors are here next month.

PS: I wonder what it feels like to see one's poor father nagging on National TV.
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What is the future of the rich and impotent?

2006-08-18T09:04:00.000+08:00

True Singaporeans will be outnumbered in 60 years time. Although most of us will not be around anymore, it's still quite sad to know that Singaporeans could be marginalised in Singapore in time to come. But in order to have babies so that Singaporeans will not be marginalised is equally sad. So what if Singapore has a biggest bank account but no one to leave behind for?
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/137101.asp
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Life is too cool

2006-08-15T22:42:00.000+08:00

Sometimes, fatigue wears out the fittest spirit
And begets negative mind and depressive thoughts
Sometimes it goes on long enough
To make you think that’s what life’s about

But then came along the news
My Neutrophils are slogging away in the marrow
To keep my eczemas away (or so it looks)
I do feel very ashamed

Life goes on
Even if I don’t hear from KABK or LKC
I have my faithful Neutrophils
Keeping up all the way for me ☺
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Not enough water

2006-07-12T23:41:00.000+08:00

“You are not drinking enough water.” says the foot reflexologist, the facial therapist, the fitness instructor, my mum, the hairdresser, the doctor.

I think I am going to snap. Who the hell drinks enough water anyway? Is Fann Wong the only one?

I think I will not give up on myself but I have to come to terms that I will never be able to drink enough water for my body. Or unless the day comes where I just set myself up on a water drip with a bedpan, a well hydrated me is far from possible…
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Fate or what?

2006-07-01T21:32:00.000+08:00

Charlton Primary and Hai Sing Girls’ High no longer exist many many years back. They are namely my primary and secondary school.

Not long ago, I realized that Kent Institute of Art and Design has met the same fate. They are now known as

University College for the Creative Arts
– at canterbury, epsom, farnham, maidstone and rochester
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Strange but true

2006-07-01T21:26:00.000+08:00

Rarely but every time I come down with a flu, which includes a fever, sore throat, stuffy/runny nose, body ache... my skin is unreasonably flawless... biotherm-free and all...

And no matter how old I am, breathing with one nostril will never fail to make me feel like a 12 year old again >;S
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Once in a while…

2006-06-28T22:14:00.000+08:00

And just when I least expect, someone said something which stump me. It was to me ‘a moment of profound truth’ from someone I met for the first time.

I went for an ad-hoc yoga class at paragon – Gaia, just wanting to check out the place and classes. They do not really specialize in advanced classes and I was recommended to the ‘Yoga-Flow’ class which was guaranteed to make me sweat.

There was only 3 students including me. I prepare myself to not have too much expectation just in case it turns out miserably unchallenging.

I hate to admit but I was very judgmental. There were no mirrors which for me is a basic pre-requisite for any work-out studio and the instructress do not possess a body that would make it to a yoga magazine cover.

On the whole, the work-out was relatively ok even though I hardly sweat through my clothes. However, I did notice the instructress was watching me very intently.

This was what she said at the end of the lesson.

“This class is probably too easy for you as you can easily get into the poses… However, I also noticed that you are over-compensating your lack of strength with flexibility. Unless you correct that imbalance, your joints especially your knees will show signs of strain in time to come.”

That really hit me in a big silent way because I totally know what she is talking about. All of a sudden, it felt like this is my first day of Yoga again only after 6 years of practice.

This incident really kept me thinking about a lot of things for quite some time. I think in many ways and aspects of our lives, we are such absolute consequence of our own thoughts and actions. And all of us totally deserve to be who we are today because of what we do everyday.
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Just when I thought…

2006-06-22T21:53:00.000+08:00

Wati insist that I would be stoned to death if I think out loud on the spot. So now back home sorting out my thoughts… how does one sell shampoo without showing hair?

There was an TV ad we came across at Kuala Terengganu. There was a gorgeous model with a black tudung wearing an unhappy face (that I didn’t even figure out why she was unhappy at first…). Then she supposedly used this recommended shampoo and !!!!!DADANG!!!!!! She is suddenly in her green tudung and smiling. Hmm, apparently, it’s the effects of the shampoo…

And just when I thought I witnessed the most bizarre!!! Along came a poster ad I chanced upon at Raffles Place that goes like this:

Scene of a husband and disgruntled wife in bed.
Wife: “I want to start a family.”
Husband (agreeably looking at wife): “We need to do it with JAMES.”

And it took me a while to read the fine print to realize that JAMES is the new money lender set up by SingPost…

?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
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Literally head-turning

2006-06-21T22:31:00.000+08:00

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Fun deed of late 2

2006-06-20T20:33:00.000+08:00

We were at Redang over the weekends :)
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Fun deed of late

2006-06-13T00:43:00.000+08:00

We were ArtJammin at RedDot last Saturday.
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Pessimism rules!

2006-06-12T22:00:00.000+08:00

What a treat! I caught a Woody Allen film on Central – Crimes and Misdemeanors.

As usual he is always this loser lamenting about how cold and indifferent our world is. And that life is ultimately meaningless…

Anyway, he has this rationale in this film that pessimistic people live longer and optimistic people have a tendency to commit suicide, thus live shorter. The reason behind this is that the pessimists, so determined to prove that the world is meaningless, is determined to live it out to prove it so. Whereas the optimists eventually call it quits because life eventually prove them wrong before their dues.

Oh man… I love practically everything he does but I have to say his best works are still his early ones. Up till Hannah and her Sisters…
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World cup 2006 flexible hours

2006-06-12T21:16:00.000+08:00

A school I am in actually endorses the WORLD CUP FEVER and allow staff to come and leave late (up to 3 hrs difference). And this practice actually won the HR an award for innovative practice?!?!?! This is absolutely crazy. I think I am sounding like an old lady now. But I believe the repercussion of this never been done nor tested practice will be enormous. I mean if staff can do this, why not students? Then one thing will lead to another…

Is there any chance of optimism in this matter?!?!
Anyway, I bet it will be withdrawn before the FEVER is over >:P
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For myself

2006-06-08T17:04:00.000+08:00

In our fast world the most underestimated part of development is time. We simply need time and attention and room for reflection. Focus is more important than effort. A vision is more important than sweat. We need time to breathe in and out to get things straight.
- Goos Geurson
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Design as moral education

2006-06-08T17:00:00.000+08:00

It’s been an intensive and rewarding term for web design with the students. Don’t know if it’s the students who are getting better, or the tutors getting better, or both. But one thing for sure, I need a good break… like the students.

I used to shudder at the thought of generating such magnitude of design students year after year (4 years) across (3) schools. I no longer do so. In fact, I feel pretty Zen about the whole affair now.

I now term myself as a visual literacy educator. My role is to provide the students with considerable skills, understanding and appreciation visual communication. It’s not just about being employed as a visual communicator at the end of the day. It’s more about acquiring a decent visual literacy as a decent human being, not unlike moral education.

Design is a discipline, in the most literal, strictest sense. This discipline is a way of life and awareness in governing how one sees, thinks, decides, conducts, converse in all respects of their lives across the different strata of the society.

I am quite sure that not every one of them will eventually do anything remotely related to design in future. But one thing for sure is that they have a glimpse of what it is about, and the choice to be IN or OUT.

Design as moral education, to help one realize who one is and who one isn’t.
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What's in a name?

2006-05-22T21:45:00.000+08:00

I took a good look at my calendar today and realized it’s mid-year already! Not that I have not been keeping track… but reality sinks in only now…

Anyway, I was looking at another pretty weird name, from the students’ list of course. And I thought of making a record of all weird names I encounter over the years (too many actually) before I get ‘used’ to them.

My memory from now…

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Choice

2006-05-21T01:33:00.000+08:00

Some weeks back, Willie asked me what I think if he chooses to be an air-steward with SIA instead of going for EY. I paused and pondered for an ‘appropriate’ response. I think my first sentence was something like:” Honestly, I don’t think it’s in our genes to do servicing…”

Ah Boon and Ah Huay was quite dumb-founded too. In fact, Ah Boon considers his air-stewarding friends’ career in at Ground-Zero. I relayed the message back accordingly.

I was at Orchard today when 超極SUPERBAND’s double-decker bus zoomed past with the fanatic bands on board. And I think to myself, I don’t think I can be happy for my brother if he is on that bus :-\
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Deep thoughts

2006-05-17T21:26:00.000+08:00

Where can a man buy a cap for his knee,
Or the key to a lock of his hair?
Can his eyes be called an academy
Because there are pupils there?

Is the crown of your head where jewels are found?
Who travels the bridge of your nose?
If you wanted to shingle the roof of your mouth,
Would you use the nails on your toes?

Can you sit in the shade of the palm of your hand,
Or beat on the drum of your ear?
Can the calf in your leg eat the corn off your toe?
Then why not grow corn on the ear?

Can the crook in your elbow be sent to jail?
If so, just what did he do?
How can you sharpen your shoulder blades?
I'll be darned if I know - do you?
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Outer space

2006-05-13T20:18:00.000+08:00

I came across an old mail, no date, just content, which goes like:

Nightlight:"so when are we chatting again? Yenswallow can fly to lamp tower to have a cupooftea by the yedeng [night light], heh heh."

Cupooftea:"ok so when is yenswallow flying up to lamp tower with yedeng to have a cupoOfTea?"

Yenswallow:"i will be flying to lamp tower at 2pm [uk time], 10pm [sing time] and 9am [us time]...will the light be on, will we be served tea....soon we'll find out...."
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